12/17/2011:
The North Dakota Milk Stabilization Board voted to give North Dakotans an early Christmas present on this date in 1975. The five-member Board, charged with enforcing federal milk marketing orders and regulating the costs of production and consumption, voted unanimously to freeze the price of milk through February. The cost of milk was set to go up three percent on January 1st, but after four straight months of increases, the Board felt that an additional increase just after the holidays would be difficult for consumers. In 1975, the entire country was facing an economic recession exacerbated by an energy shortage, high inflation, and high unemployment. In light of this, Martin Mertz, the Board’s executive secretary, said that “[the freeze] ought to be a pretty good Christmas gift to the consumers of North Dakota,” after the group’s semi-annual meeting in Carrington.
Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job
Sources:
The Forum. Wednesday, December 17, 1975: pp.1, 2.